[RFE] Improve the situation about missing vcredist

[TarzanaK]

missing DLLs: VCRUNTIME140_1.dll, MSVCP140_1.dll. Reinstalling does not fix the issue.

OS Name Microsoft Windows 11 Pro Version 10.0.26100 Build 26100 System Model HP ProDesk 600 G4 SFF System Type x64-based PC System SKU 5VQ80UP#ABA Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8600 CPU @ 3.10GHz, 3096 Mhz, 6 Core(s), 6 Logical Processor(s) BIOS Version/Date HP Q07 Ver. 02.27.00, 12/7/2023 SMBIOS Version 3.1 Embedded Controller Version 7.210 BIOS Mode UEFI

[grulja]

Hi, as mentioned here https://github.com/FedoraQt/MediaWriter/blob/main/WINDOWS.md you need to install Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable.

[TarzanaK]

ok thanks, I will review and test/report.

[kparal]

Hi @grulja , I just hit this myself (on a clean Win10 install), can we please reopen this ticket and improve this situation for the end users? The linked page only talks about Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for building FMW, not running it. Furthermore, there's not even a link what exactly to download and install. I, myself, am struggling to figure it out. And of course, nobody will actually find that linked page. The users see just a cryptic error, and have no idea what to do.

Can we please: a) make vcredist installation automatic? Either by bundling the vcredist installer (it seems you need to have a Visual Studio license in order to be allowed to do that), or by triggering a download and install as part of the FMW installer? b) provide a useful error message if the library dependency is not satisfied, including a hyperlink and steps to follow, in order to install vcredist?

The current situation is quite terrible for folks who just want to switch from Windows to Fedora and our official tool doesn't even start. Thanks!

[TarzanaK]

FYI:

pre-req: Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for C++ (MSVC) runtime libraries.

I installed the 64 bit version of MSVC, uninstalled fedora and tried again.. it is now working.

On Tue, Oct 21, 2025 at 3:38 AM Kamil Páral @.***> wrote:

kparal left a comment (FedoraQt/MediaWriter#892) https://github.com/FedoraQt/MediaWriter/issues/892#issuecomment-3425896487

Hi @grulja https://github.com/grulja , I just hit this myself (on a clean Win10 install), can we please reopen this ticket and improve this situation for the end users? The linked page https://github.com/FedoraQt/MediaWriter/blob/main/WINDOWS.md only talks about Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for building FMW, not running it. Furthermore, there's not even a link what exactly to download and install. I, myself, am struggling to figure it out. And of course, nobody will actually find that linked page. The users see just a cryptic error, and have no idea what to do.

Can we please: a) make vcredist installation automatic? Either by bundling the vcredist installer (it seems you need to have a Visual Studio license in order to be allowed to do that), or by triggering a download and install as part of the FMW installer? b) provide a useful error message if the library dependency is not satisfied, including a hyperlink and steps to follow, in order to install vcredist?

The current situation is quite terrible for folks who just want to switch from Windows to Fedora and our official tool doesn't even start. Thanks!

— Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/FedoraQt/MediaWriter/issues/892#issuecomment-3425896487, or unsubscribe https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/BXS5GIP3I4QXVZG2KMUCFGD3YYELDAVCNFSM6AAAAACG5BPUACVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZTIMRVHA4TMNBYG4 . You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: @.***>

--

*Khalil. *

[kparal]

For anyone in the same situation, here are some links. I fixed FMW by installing vc_redist.x64.exe from https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist?view=msvc-170 .

[RileyMarquis3]

Per https://github.com/FedoraQt/MediaWriter/tree/main/dist/win, it appears MSVC 2015-2022 would be the lowest workable version.

Proposed Main Tasks For This Issue: Update the NSI scripts inside https://github.com/FedoraQt/MediaWriter/tree/main/dist/win (mediawriter.nsi and mediawriter_native.nsi) as follows:

• Detect achitecture (x86, x64, arm)
• Check if MSVC is installed.
• Since a license is required to bundle MSVC, have the installer download and run the installer (if allowed). If not allowed, advise in the installer with a link to download MSVC.
• The MSVC installer can be run like this: vc_redist.x64.exe /install /passive /norestart - vc_redist.x64.exe may be another name depending on architecture.

Proposed Other Tasks For This Issue:

• Update https://github.com/FedoraQt/MediaWriter/blob/main/WINDOWS.md to mention the need to install MSVC, with a clickable link to the installer (if allowed). The specific version should be mentioned, e.g. VS 2022.